Developers of the turn-based tactical RPG "Frontier: By the Way of Shadows" aim to raise 4.5 million rubles to complete the game

We return once more to our publication series about games whose authors are seeking investments and publishers. Next up is a piece about the project "Frontier: Path of Shadows." It is an isometric tactical game set in a sci-fi universe reminiscent of the series "Firefly."

If you're an indie developer, ready to share your project and are also seeking investments, a publisher, or someone to join your team, be sure to write to us on Telegram at https://t.me/overwordly.

Alexey Sawyer, responsible for business development and communications on the project, shared details about the project.

Alexey Sawyer

About the Team

The core team of the studio has been working in the video game market since late 2021.

Currently, we have seven members, and occasionally, we bring in external specialists for project work. Since its inception, the team has been fully distributed, working remotely, and synchronizing on Moscow time.

The official legal entity is Oduvan Games LLC.

Some of the team's previous projects can be viewed on our website.

It's important to note that some projects are under non-disclosure agreements (NDA) and are not publicly available.

We are currently working on two PC projects, and I would like to tell you about one of them.

About the Project

"Frontier: Path of Shadows" is a turn-based tactical RPG set in a sci-fi universe.

The project is being developed based on an IP of the same name — "Frontier." It is over 15 years old. This setting was created for a tabletop role-playing game with a well-developed world and a stable fan base.

The B2C announcement of the game is as follows:

"Battle opponents, upgrade your squad, explore new planets! Make complex choices and determine the fate of an entire sector in the game ‘Frontier: Path of Shadows.’ Experience a richly detailed 25th-century world and tactical battles where XCOM meets Final Fantasy."

Organizational Information

• Engine: Unity
• Project Stage: The combat system prototype is ready, and about 60% of the game's demo version is complete. In our estimation, the demo version represents approximately 50% of the entire game, as it focuses on the most complex features — the combat model and level generator. At the current pace of development, the game is planned for release in February-March 2026.
• Press Kit: https://disk.yandex.ru/d/a2KsiYFY9bR9rw
• Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3570490/Frontir_Putem_Tenej/

About Gameplay/Mechanics

Tactical Combat System

The game's combat system is built around nodal points between which characters move. Each point has its advantage (elevation, turret, weapon, med-bot, etc.). Every scene is generated procedurally, taking into account mission objectives, the battle location, and player capabilities.

Upgrades and Equipment

The player controls a group of characters, each with a unique talent tree. Equipment can be purchased for the squad and distributed among characters.

Planet Exploration

The character team travels between planets on a spaceship. Upon reaching an unexplored planet, scanning and identifying points of interest are required first.

Adaptive Symbiont

The main character of the game is linked with a symbiont crystal, a sentient life form with a different mindset. The symbiont is color-coded and changes color based on the player's actions.

Additional mechanics include:

• dialogues with choices;
• trading;
• reputation;
• missions;
• random events;
• encyclopedia.

The gameplay loop can be summarized into the following components:

• receiving a mission;
• purchasing equipment;
• exploring sectors and planets;
• making storyline choices;
• combat;
• upgrading the squad.

Main Features of the Game

• A fresh take on tactical combat, offering more tactics and less randomness.
• Procedurally generated missions, taking into account the player's previous experience.
• A detailed world with a long history and deep development.

The project's atmosphere deserves special mention: it's science fiction with touches of retro-futurism and the romance of adventure in mysterious distant worlds, reminiscent of shows like "Star Trek" and "Firefly."

About the Target Audience

Our target audience is men aged 25-55, primarily those working in high-tech fields (IT specialists, engineers, scientists, product specialists, managers, etc.) with average and above-average incomes. The main future geography is Russia, Europe, North, and South America.

Projects serving as references for the target audience include:

• Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader;
• XCOM series;
• Final Fantasy series;
• Metal Slug Tactics.

About the Business Model

The monetization model for the project is premium.

We expect the project to sell 40,000 copies.

Our expectations are based on analyzing projects of similar quality and gameplay on Steam, which we believe we can compete with.

About the Metrics

Currently, the project has about 1,000 wishlists, but since we have only recently started promoting the project, we expect the number of wishlists to grow soon.

Who Are We Looking For?

We are looking for a publisher for the project to provide it with strong marketing support.

Additionally, we are seeking an investor for the second half of the project’s funding. To complete the game, we need a sum of 4.5 million rubles.

Detailed information on how the funds will be spent, terms, and P&L can be found in our pitch.

How to Contact Us?

• Telegram: https://t.me/dixi_alex
• Email: gamesoduvan@gmail.com